Infant died after being left in car, guardian forgot to drop child at day care

NATALBANY – Sheriff's deputies released new information about the death of an 8-month old Thursday.

The baby died Wednesday after being left in a car for hours.

Thursday, authorities said the child's guardian realized the child was never dropped off and had been left in the car when they arrived at the day care to pick up the baby at the end of the day. The guardian – a specific relationship was not released by the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office – said they thought they had dropped the child off on their way to work but realized they did not when they found the baby in the car seat.

The sad realization came when the guardian tried to find the child at day care at the end of the day. The child, a baby boy, was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the at the day care on North Morrison between Hammond and Natalbany, authorities said.

“The guardian has been very cooperative and working with detectives. She’s obviously distraught. This is a tragic situation and that’s why we remind parents all the time that tragedies like this aren’t supposed to happen but they do," Sheriff Daniel Edwards said in a prepared statement. "So, we just want to make sure that people understand to take extra care, especially during the summer. And of course, all times of the year, make sure you know where your children are.”

Upon completion of the investigation, all evidence and findings will be sent to the DA’s office for review.